Overview of Bombus on PostgraduateForum.com

Overview of Bombus

Signup date: 02 May 2017 at 10:04am

Last login: 02 May 2017 at 4:36pm

Post count: 4

Recent Posts

Is this late interview invitation anything I should be wary of? (Imperial)

Bombus 4 posts
7 years ago

They wouldn't waste their own time interviewing you if they didn't think you had a chance as a candidate for the project. Three weeks isn't that long to wait for an interview offer, you're fine.

Advice for quitting PhD

Bombus 4 posts
7 years ago

Quote From appleby:

Quote From Bombus:

How did it work with your funding body demanding you paid them back? Did you ever sign a contract that included that in the terms and conditions? Do you have any idea if it's actually legal for them to do that if they haven't said in advance?

In my case it's already stated on the first page of the agreement and I am legally bounded by it but in your case if they have not informed you beforehand and there's no written statement regarding that, I am not sure what I can advise. If there's no agreement on the exit requirement then it's open to some loopholes I guess?

Thank you, that's actually very helpful to know that yours was agreed in advance and not sprung on you. Withdrawal isn't mentioned at all in my agreement - the only thing that comes close is a clause that if I fail to progress enough they'll stop funding me. I'm sorry for your situation, by the way.

Advice for quitting PhD

Bombus 4 posts
7 years ago

Quote From appleby:
Dear Bombus,

I am also an international student in the UK, sponsored by a different body, and the first time I came here I took the wrong course. Well, I really thought it was the most isolated (and stupidest) case! I was thinking of quitting, but then different opportunity occurred and I found myself in a new project, changed my supervisor and all.

I agree with the previous poster, the best is to talk to your sponsor directly because terms of agreement differ between different sponsors. In my case, if I were to choose to quit in my previous course:

(1) The funding body made it clear that the failure to obtain a PhD would mean I had to pay back all the funding (tuition fees and personal allowances) that they have spent.
(2) The stated amount is "the sum of the total costs acquired throughout the study" which I believe includes everything that they have spent.
(3) Some stipend is given on monthly basis, some are like once in a few months. You really need to check with them regarding this.
(4) Once you have submitted the withdrawal form at the university (usually at the end of a month) then you're free to go.

However, these are all my assumption on what would happen. The best course of action is for you to talk directly to your sponsor and your school. Nonetheless, I still wish you'd consider continuing or find a new project that you might want to pursue. I have experienced helplessness and despair during my first project. I didn't know that once I changed my project I gained back my strength for academic work. However, I still respect whatever decision you want to take.

How did it work with your funding body demanding you paid them back? Did you ever sign a contract that included that in the terms and conditions? Do you have any idea if it's actually legal for them to do that if they haven't said in advance?

Advice for quitting PhD

Bombus 4 posts
7 years ago

Hello all,

For info, I am UK based. I receive a stipend from a funding body separate from my university.

So, I have definitely decided I'm going to quit my PhD. I don't find the topic interesting enough, I don't want to go into academia, and I don't want to do any of the careers it's training me for in general really. I switched disciplines to come into this project and basically that was a huge mistake. I'm only at the end of my first year so it's not worth continuing at this point and I'm happy with that.

However, I'm confused about the practicalities of quitting, and the so-called "terms and conditions" that accompanied my stipend are utterly useless in helping. So I was hoping someone might be able to help me with the following:

1) Will my funding body want my stipend back?
2) I have received extra money for a training course from my funding body, will they want the money for this back regardless of if they want my stipend or not?
3) How does giving notice work in the PhD world? Will my stipend be cut the moment I say I'm quitting? This makes sense to me as obviously any work I continued doing won't amount to anything at this point but I want to check.
4) In people's experience is it a lengthy process to get out? I've already started job hunting so obviously my starting date will be affected here.

Just any tips in general for the practical side of quitting? Finance, paperwork, admin?